GB2070423A

GB2070423A - Sofa-bed

Info

Publication number: GB2070423A
Application number: GB8031520A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Stanzwerk Peitz und Co
Current assignee: Stanzwerk Peitz und Co
Priority date: 1980-03-01
Filing date: 1980-09-30
Publication date: 1981-09-09
Also published as: DE8005674U1; DE3033980A1; AT365434B; ATA455480A

Abstract

A sofa-bed convertible between a bed (illustrated) and a sofa (not shown) comprises an upholstered backrest (3) and seat (4) hinged together by means (6), and a lower part (5) pivotally mounted by a four-bar linkage to a slider (9) slidable on rollers (8) for stowing under the seat (4) when the sofa-bed is a sofa. To convert to a bed, the seat (4) is pulled forwardly, automatically flattening the backrest (3), the slider (9) is pulled forwardly and the lower part (5) lifted, pulled forwardly and lowered onto the slider's front wall (10) which then supports the lower part (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sofa-bed The invention relates to a sofa-bed, convertible between a sofa and a bed, and comprising a frame, an upholstered seat and backrest, and a lower part which is located under the seat when the sofa-bed is a sofa and can be pulled out forwardly, the sofa-bed further comprising means which, on converting the sofa to a bed, necessarily move the backrest into the reclined, or bed, position by moving the seat, the lower part being mounted on a slider, guided in the frame under the seat, the lower part being movably mounted on the slider by four-bar linkage means, comprising links which are pivotable to a limited extent from a rearward-pointing, almost horizontal position upwardly and forwardly to substantially the height of the seat.

A sofa-bed of this type is known from German Utility Model 6,923,200. In the latter, support feet which automatically pivot out forwardly on pivoting of the lower part and contact the floor and which limit the forward pivoting motion of the links, are provided on the pair of links on their front side.

It is an object of the present invention to considerable simplify the means for maintaining the lower part in its position when the sofa-bed is used as a bed.

According to the invention there is provided a sofa-bed, which is convertible between a sitting position in which it is a sofa and a reclined position in which it is a bed, which sofa-bed comprises a frame, an upholstered backrest, an upholstered seat, a lower part mounted on a slider, which is disposed under the seat when the sofa-bed is in the sitting position and which is slidably guided in the frame so that it may be slid forwardly from its position under the seat, and a support provided adjacent the front of the slider and projecting upwardly therefrom, the backrest and seat being adapted so that movement of the seat during conversion of the sofa-bed from the sitting to the reclined position causes movement of the backrest into the reclined position and the lower part being movably mounted on the slider by four-bar linkage means comprising a pair of links adapted for limited pivotal movement from a substantially horizontal and rearwardly directed disposition, upwardly and forwardly to a position where the links extend to substantially the level of the seat, whereby the lower part can be moved relative to the slider into a position at the same level as that of the seat, and supported in that position on the support.

In a preferred embodiment, the support for the lower part comprises a front wall of the slider, which front wall joins the sides of the slider to one another.

As a result, the movably mounted positioning members, which were hitherto required for supporting the lower part in its position when the sofa-bed is used as a bed are no longer necessary, so that the sofa-bed according to the present invention is far less prone to faults than the known sofa-bed and, additionally, can be manufactured at lower cost.

Moreover, where the support for the lower part comprises the slider front wall, which interconnects the sides of the slider, there results a higher inherent rigidity of the slider, and this also ensures a ready adjustment of the slider without additional means and/or measures.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sofa-bed according to the invention in cross-section in the sitting, or sofa, position; Figure 2 shows a part of the sofa-bed of Figure 1 in longitudinal section; Figure 3 shows the sofa-bed in cross-section during conversion; and Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sofa-bed when it is in the reclined, or bed, position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a sofa-bed, or convertible settee, comprising a frame 1 with arm rests 2, an upholstered backrest 3, an upholstered seat part 4 and an upholstered lower part 5.

The backrest 3 and the seat part 4 are pivotaily joined to one another at either side by hinge means 6, each comprising a bracket and two links, which are pivoted at their ends. Each bracket of the hinge means is disposed on the front at the sides of the backrest 3 and is hinged to the frame 1 by means of pairs of links 7, arranged in such a way that the backrest 3, as can be seen from Figure 3, can be pivoted downwards to form a head part, the seat part 4 being displaced forwardly, and the seat part 4 can then be pivoted downwardly into the reclined position.

The lower part 5 is hinged at either side of the slider 9 by means of a four-bar linkage in such a way that it can be pivoted with respect to the slider from the position shown in Figure 1 into the position represented in Figure 3. The slider 9 is guided in the frame 1, has support rollers 8 and can be pulled forwardly out of the frame 1 to a limited extent.

In the reclined position shown in Figure 4, the lower part 5 rests on a rigid support 10 located on the front of the slider 9. Preferentially, this support is designed as a front wall which rigidly joins the sides of the slider 9 to one another.

Instead of the rear support rollers 8, it is possible, under certain circumstances, to provide sliding elements which are supported on slide rails integral with the frame.

1. A sofa-bed, which is convertible between a sitting position in which it is a sofa and a reclined position in which it is a bed, which sofa-bed comprises a frame, an upholstered backrest, an upholstered seat, a lower part mounted on a slider, which is disposed under the seat when the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sofa-bed The invention relates to a sofa-bed, convertible between a sofa and a bed, and comprising a frame, an upholstered seat and backrest, and a lower part which is located under the seat when the sofa-bed is a sofa and can be pulled out forwardly, the sofa-bed further comprising means which, on converting the sofa to a bed, necessarily move the backrest into the reclined, or bed, position by moving the seat, the lower part being mounted on a slider, guided in the frame under the seat, the lower part being movably mounted on the slider by four-bar linkage means, comprising links which are pivotable to a limited extent from a rearward-pointing, almost horizontal position upwardly and forwardly to substantially the height of the seat. A sofa-bed of this type is known from German Utility Model 6,923,200. In the latter, support feet which automatically pivot out forwardly on pivoting of the lower part and contact the floor and which limit the forward pivoting motion of the links, are provided on the pair of links on their front side. It is an object of the present invention to considerable simplify the means for maintaining the lower part in its position when the sofa-bed is used as a bed. According to the invention there is provided a sofa-bed, which is convertible between a sitting position in which it is a sofa and a reclined position in which it is a bed, which sofa-bed comprises a frame, an upholstered backrest, an upholstered seat, a lower part mounted on a slider, which is disposed under the seat when the sofa-bed is in the sitting position and which is slidably guided in the frame so that it may be slid forwardly from its position under the seat, and a support provided adjacent the front of the slider and projecting upwardly therefrom, the backrest and seat being adapted so that movement of the seat during conversion of the sofa-bed from the sitting to the reclined position causes movement of the backrest into the reclined position and the lower part being movably mounted on the slider by four-bar linkage means comprising a pair of links adapted for limited pivotal movement from a substantially horizontal and rearwardly directed disposition, upwardly and forwardly to a position where the links extend to substantially the level of the seat, whereby the lower part can be moved relative to the slider into a position at the same level as that of the seat, and supported in that position on the support. In a preferred embodiment, the support for the lower part comprises a front wall of the slider, which front wall joins the sides of the slider to one another. As a result, the movably mounted positioning members, which were hitherto required for supporting the lower part in its position when the sofa-bed is used as a bed are no longer necessary, so that the sofa-bed according to the present invention is far less prone to faults than the known sofa-bed and, additionally, can be manufactured at lower cost. Moreover, where the support for the lower part comprises the slider front wall, which interconnects the sides of the slider, there results a higher inherent rigidity of the slider, and this also ensures a ready adjustment of the slider without additional means and/or measures. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sofa-bed according to the invention in cross-section in the sitting, or sofa, position; Figure 2 shows a part of the sofa-bed of Figure 1 in longitudinal section; Figure 3 shows the sofa-bed in cross-section during conversion; and Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sofa-bed when it is in the reclined, or bed, position. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a sofa-bed, or convertible settee, comprising a frame 1 with arm rests 2, an upholstered backrest 3, an upholstered seat part 4 and an upholstered lower part 5. The backrest 3 and the seat part 4 are pivotaily joined to one another at either side by hinge means 6, each comprising a bracket and two links, which are pivoted at their ends. Each bracket of the hinge means is disposed on the front at the sides of the backrest 3 and is hinged to the frame 1 by means of pairs of links 7, arranged in such a way that the backrest 3, as can be seen from Figure 3, can be pivoted downwards to form a head part, the seat part 4 being displaced forwardly, and the seat part 4 can then be pivoted downwardly into the reclined position. The lower part 5 is hinged at either side of the slider 9 by means of a four-bar linkage in such a way that it can be pivoted with respect to the slider from the position shown in Figure 1 into the position represented in Figure 3. The slider 9 is guided in the frame 1, has support rollers 8 and can be pulled forwardly out of the frame 1 to a limited extent. In the reclined position shown in Figure 4, the lower part 5 rests on a rigid support 10 located on the front of the slider 9. Preferentially, this support is designed as a front wall which rigidly joins the sides of the slider 9 to one another. Instead of the rear support rollers 8, it is possible, under certain circumstances, to provide sliding elements which are supported on slide rails integral with the frame. CLAIMS

1. A sofa-bed, which is convertible between a sitting position in which it is a sofa and a reclined position in which it is a bed, which sofa-bed comprises a frame, an upholstered backrest, an upholstered seat, a lower part mounted on a slider, which is disposed under the seat when the sofa-bed is in the sitting position and which is slidably guided in the frame so that it may be slid forwardly from its position under the seat, and a support provided adjacent the front of the slider and projecting upwardly therefrom, the backrest and seat being adapted so that movement of the seat during conversion of the sofa-bed from the sitting to the reclined position causes movement of the backrest into the reclined position and the lower part being movably mounted on the slider by fourbar linkage means comprising a pair of links adapted for limited pivotal movement, from a substantially horizontal and rearwardly directed disposition, upwardly and forwardly to a position where the links extend to substantially the level of the seat, whereby the lower part can be moved relative to the slider into a position at the same level as that of the seat, and supported in that position on the support.

2. A sofa-bed as claimed in Claim 1, in which the slider comprises two sides and a front wall inter-connecting the sides, the support comprising this front wall.

3. A sofa-bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.